Ilkley's high hopes for special brew

THE Ilkley Brewery Company is hoping to strike gold at a beercompetition next month to find the best beers in the country.

More than 60 beers from the nation's smaller brewers will be judged at the National Beer Competition organised by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).

The competition, held in Nottingham on February 4, brings together the winners of seven regional heats, including the Northern region where Ilkley Brewery triumphed last autumn.

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The 56 draught and seven bottled finalist beers present an impressively diverse array of beer styles, from milds and pale ales to stouts and fruit beers.

Judges will select a winner in each of nine categories, as well as a supreme champion.

Ilkley Brewery has high hopes for its Mary Jane, a light hoppy session beer at 3.5 per cent ABV.

Stewart Ross, joint owner of Ilkley Brewery, said: "Of the 1,400 beers that entered the regional heats, ours is one of only 63 to have made it to the National Beer Competition, so this is a real thrill for us.

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"We're up against the best beers from brewers across the country, so the competition will be tough and we'll be delighted to come away with one of the national titles."

The 10 winning beers will be announced at SIBA's National Conference in March.

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